Newsletter

College Night to draw thousands to James Brown Arena

High school students will have the chance to visit college campuses from across the country Thursday without leaving Augusta.

Representatives from more than 150 colleges and universities will gather at James Brown Arena for the annual CSRA College Night to offer information and scholarships to students and their families.

The event is a partnership among various agencies, including Savannah River Nuclear Solutions and the U.S. Department of Energy. It attracted more than 8,000 people last year.

Recruiters will set up booths at the arena and provide information about academics, dormitories, campus life and course offerings to students – much like the information they would receive on a campus visit, said Barbara Smoak, SRNS’ director of business, technology and employee communications.

“Sometimes it’s for the people who have already put a lot of thought into the process, and they go in and are able to talk face to face with somebody and realize, ‘That’s where I want to go,’ ” Smoak said. “Or they might be surprised and find out there is another school there that’s offering what they are looking for. … You have an opportunity to compare and see what’s best for you.”

Recruiters will offer $16,000 in scholarships, Smoak said. Students must register in person at the event, have a 2.5 GPA or better and be a high school junior or senior.

Scholarships are given out in a random drawing but are only awarded when a student is accepted by a college.

Smoak said the event’s organizers are eager to reach out to students who might not have the ability to visit colleges in person and explore their options as easily as others.

She said that at least two bus loads of students are scheduled to drive in from rural areas such as Barnwell and Allendale in South Carolina and that the public is invited to attend.

“It gives them one place they can go to and really find out what college is,” she said.